Sorry Boys, I’m Not A Fun Mom

Once upon a time, when I dreamed of being your Mom, I had this vision in my head of what kind of mom I would be…naturally, I’d be a good mom, but not just a good mom, I’d be a fun mom. This was long before the days of Pinterest but I still knew what it looked like: fun meals, special holiday traditions, random fun stuff, epic birthday parties, unique experiences, you’d have it all.

And then you happened, life happened and it’s dawned on me…I’m not a fun mom.

Not that I haven’t tried. I do make ghost pancakes on Halloween morning and I make a mean spider jack-o-lantern; I’ll kick around a soccer ball and walk to get hot chocolate or a bagel, we go camping and…

Well, that might be it.

I really do want to be a fun mom. Last month I scribbled down a bunch of those crazy days and celebrations that fall in February – the perfect time to live out my dream, especially since your Dad as going to be gone. February is loaded with opportunity! Not only Valentine’s Day, but things like “Eat Ice Cream For Breakfast Day” on February 3rd. There’s World Nutella Day, National Chopsticks Day, National Pizza Day, National Drink Wine Day (oops, that ones for me), Cherry Pie Day, Tortilla Chip Day – OMG, it’s going to be so much fun! Yes, yes, yes, I was totally going to let you guys eat ice cream for breakfast on February 3rd.

But then, guess what, life happened. Again.

February 3rd came and went, and I missed it. Same with World Nutella Day on the 5th (sorry #2, I know your love of Nutella), and National Pancake Day just this week. And with it came that feeling – that realization. I’m just not a fun mom.

Oh how I wish I were. All of those fun things you see on Pinterest…cool lunch ideas, trees made from hand prints, first day of school photo props, Lego cookies, Santa hat cupcakes, snowman pizza, Easter Bunny bread, dinosaur watermelons, gummy bear popsicles, rainbow fruit kabobs, mummy hot dogs, s’mores snow cones…the list goes on and on and on. I’ve pinned them all, but haven’t accomplished (or attempted) any of them, not a one!

Nope, not a fun mom.

Those fun kid things – you know the 10 things to do with kids this weekend lists, the afternoons at the playground, or the zoo, or the library or the museum, not in the plans. The sidewalk chalk art festival, the International Snow Sculpture Festival – fun stuff I know you guys would dig. Sadly, we don’t ever manage to do that stuff. I honestly don’t know if you’ve ever fed the ducks or flown a kite or been to a concert in the park. Hell, you didn’t even have a birthday party this year.

I’m doing the not-so-fun stuff that makes our family work. I’m going to work. I’m making phone calls at lunch. I’m balancing our budget. I’m volunteering at school. I’m researching your struggles. I’m organizing car pool. I’m scheduling doctor appointments. I’m making grocery lists. I’m reading every piece of paper that comes home from school memorizing the date of the next dine out night and parent presentation. I’m doing laundry, so much laundry. I’m organizing surprise birthday parties. I’m making lists for graduation announcements. I’m reviewing your taxes. I’m finding multiplication worksheets and books you might like. I’m sitting next to you while you work on your homework. I’m taking a deep breath and only silently screaming back at you while you’re melting down. I’m doing everything I can to make sure you’re okay.

4 Responses

your piece defines a person that is equally annoying as the fun Mom. We get it, you have stuff to do, like balance work and family. I didn’t hear anything about a spouse, which why would you, it wouldn’t help your case.

How about you get over yourself, just like the fun mom needs to get over herself, and realize life is about balance. Pinterest and Instagram do not define parenting, so stop looking to them for validation or vindication.

This gave me all the feels 🙂 Always having been an artistic person, I am constantly getting excited about fun kid-related things to do or make on Pinterest and rarely, if ever, getting around to doing them. I’m too busy being a mom to be a fun mom! Thank you for this – it made my day!